Resistor for shunted condensers



oa. 2, 192s. 1,686,022'

. R. E. MARBURY REISISTOR FOR SHUNTED CONDENSERS F11ed`oet-1, 19:25y

Patented Oct. 2, V11928".

' UNITED ySrtaTiss PATENT orricis.y

.RALPH E. MABBURY; OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNoa To Wnsrlirsu HOUSE ELECTRIC a MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF rENNsYL` VANIA.

RESISTOR jFOR SHUNTED CONDENSERS.,

i Application" led October 1, 1923. Serial No *665,834.

M invention relatesto resistors and more particularly to resistors for use in connection with high-voltage, direct-current condensers, lightning arresters, or `the like apparatus towhichsaid resistorsare adaptable; Still more particularly, iti vrelates to yliquid lresistors capable of inaintainin 'a balance beother apparatus. j f

tween the units of a con enser system orA yUnder some conditions,`.it has been found desirable to parallel the condenser with resistance relatively Llow compared tothe resistance of the condenser, in order to control the voltage distribution kor balance'as desired.l

y consisting of a tubular'element having reenergy and consequent high cost of roperaf tion.

It hasfalso been `found that, in the useof resistors of other than liquid material, an unbalanced condition Aoften, arises in condensers and other apparatus With which they are associated, which has resulted in a puncture ofthe dielectric and abreakingidown of the yunit and, in some instances, the Whole system. This result isdue in part to the fact l that the elements of the resistor .contain impurities, vary` in thickness and density at different points and do not respond to produce a substantial balancebetween electrodes spaced an equal distance'apart'.y lt. has been particularly found in V carbon resistor elements that changes in their operation result after a period of time'andby reason of variations in temperature,'andthat theydo not have a uniform action. y v

y'To overcome this, I' havedevised a resistor in which the electrodes are immersed in a liquid and which will automatically maintain an even balance between the spacedelectrode elements. *Y

One .of the objects of myvinyvention is to overcome these defects and to provide a liquid resistor which will automatically maintain'electrodes immersed therein in equally spaced relation to each other and 'comprising a plurality ofsteps, yin a state' of substantially perfect balance, so that kin condenserk Some types of resistors,particular1y those `tances apart.

a concentration of voltage on a. singleunit willnot occur and the .breaking down" of thek system for this or-other similar reasons yWill be obviated.

lMy invention consists substantially in providing a sealed receptacle containing an organic or inorganic liquid, such as, for instance, a mixture of Xylene and alcohol, in which the, electrodesl formingr a plurality of steps and coiinectedto the terminals of thev condenser systems, lightning arresters, or other apparatus, are immersed so that a condition of balance will be maintained between the respective steps and throughout the system. It is observed that, although in` a system'of condensers, the Working conditions' thereof may vary from timeto time, yet

they will be maintained in balancev in respect to Veach other by the automatic operation of the liquid resistor common to all electrodes ot ya plurality of steps contained in a. single container which combination Iliave devised and which thereby overcomes the.r defects experieiiced in the operation of resistors heretofore ing, I provide a hermetically sealed, prefer ably glass, tube 1 into which I seal a plurality of similar conductors vor electrodes 2, 3, 4, and 5, in this instance the number being four, but which, it is well understood, may be varied as the conditions require. The electrodes are spaced substantially equal dis- Within the tubular container 1'and substantially filling the same, Iy pro- Vide liquid, indicated at 6, of high resistance and which, in the particular apparatus herein described, is a mixture of Xylene and alcohol.

The application of my resistor will be obvious from reference to Fig. 2. The respective condenser units or systems 7,y 8 and 9 have theirterminals 10, 11, 12 and 13 coni nectedto the Velectrodes 2 3, 4 and`5 of the respectively, and by these means the condenser systems and the resistor are assembled in the desired operative relation.

Although I have referred to the maintenance balance by my resistor between electrodes efuially spaced apart, yet it is obvious that the balance between them will be retained under certain conditions although the electrodes may be spaced apart unequally. lllhen the capacity of the respective units or systems otl condensers connected to the electrodes is equal the electrodes should be equally spaced apart in order to etlect this balanced relation; but it the capacity ot these units or systems is greater or less in reierence to each other then their respective electrodes should be correspondingly spaced a greater or less distance from each other.

Because ot impurities therein and .tor other reasons, insulation et the solid type varies widely in insulation resistance in condenser units. The voltage per unit thickness may be equally distributed at irst but may divide unevenly as a result ot the unequal insulation resistances developed aty various points in the material. At one point in a single insulation or dielectric, the voltage may be low, while at another point it may be yery high, owing,r to the lower specific resistance of the insulation or dielectric.

As, hereinbetore stated, balancing resistors ot the solid type have tailed to maintain balance between a. plurality of steps cooperating with a. plurality ot condenser units and, by providing' a liquid resitor element ot' uniform density not aliected by tenmerature and time, acting;` upon the electrodes ot a plurality of steps in a common container l am enabled to utilize such. a liquid to maintain a balanced relation between the electrodes comprising the respective steps whica are immersed therein and with which the condensers are ultimately connected. This result is accomplished not only because orn the uniformity in purity and density at all points of the resistor element, but because the homogeneous liquid covers all electrodes at all times,

in examination ot the operation ot my liquid resistor will be found to show that7 although trom time to time, the resistance of the liquid resistor may chantre, the relation ot' balance ot each indiridual electrode and otl each step to the. others is constantly and automatically maintained.

As a preferred mode ot application oit my invention. the conductors il and li" may be a high-voltage dircct-currcnt line, the conlensers '7, 8 and S) bein utilized as lightning' arresters for discharginn` voltage surges o" steep wave trent on the line.

lt will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a resistor which will overcome the detects tound in the prior art and which is etlicient, positive and automatic in operation, Vsimple in construction and 0l" ,comparatively cheap cost. lt will be understood that, although l specifically mention the use ot the mixture oit Xylene and alcohol, l do not wish to be limited thereby and am aware that many other liquids and liquid mixtures are adaptable tor this use, such as acetone, toluene, benzol and other liquids haringy similar properties.

l claim as lmy invention:

l. The combination with av plurality of condensers connected in series, ot a slumtingir resistor comprising a ksingle container hayii g therein a liquid in which are immersed ter-.ainal and intermediate electrodes connected to terminal and intermediate points of said condensers.

2. The combination with a plurality of condensers connected in series, of a shuntingr resistor comprising a single container' haring;l therein a. mixture et Xylene and alcohol, in which are in'imcrsed terminal and intermediate electrodes connected to terminal and intermediate points ot said condensers.

3. The combination with a .plurality of condensers, of a shunting' resistor comprisiup,` a sealed tubular container having therein a mixture of xylene and alcohol, in which are immerf-:ed three or more electrodes electrically connected to a corresponding` number of condenser terminals.

et. The combination with a plurality of condensci's of a resistor comprising' a container haring therein a liquid, in which are innncrsed a plurality ol sets ot electrodes to provide a plurality of sets et resistors which are connected to said condenscrs.

5. The combination with a plurality ot condensers of a resistor comprising), a container' havingY therein a mixture oif Xylenc and alcohol in which are inmiersed a plurality ot sets of electrodes to provide a. plurality ot sets oi resistors which are connected to said condensers.

ln testimony whereof, l have hereunto subscribed my name-this 20th day ol September, 1923.

BMLPH E. MARBUEY.

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